Indicia reader having a filtered multifunction image sensor

ABSTRACT

An indicia reader that utilizes its image sensor for more than one function is disclosed. The image sensor&#39;s functionality is derived by designating areas on the image sensor according to function and then filtering the light focused onto each area according to the area&#39;s particular function. The data (i.e., pixel information) from each area may then be processed accordingly to facilitate a variety of functions such as image capture and object detection.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/827,803 for an Indicia Reader Having a Filtered Multifunction Image Sensor filed Aug. 17, 2015 (and published Feb. 23, 2017 as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0053147), now U.S. Pat. No. 9,911,023. Each of the foregoing patent application, patent publication, and patent is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to indicia readers and more specifically, to imaging indicia readers having an image sensor, which is configured for multiple functions.

BACKGROUND

Indicia readers (i.e., barcode scanners, barcode readers, indicia scanners, etc.) are devices which decode and interpret machine-readable codes (i.e., indicia, barcodes, QR codes, characters, signatures, etc.) that are marked (e.g., printed, labeled, written, etc.) on objects to help someone perform a function (e.g., shipping, calculate cost, etc.) or to help understand something about the object (e.g., model number, serial number, etc.). While various types of indicia readers exist, imaging indicia readers are often preferred due to their versatility.

Imaging indicia readers use an image sensor (e.g., a charge-coupled device (CCD)), to capture a digital image of at least one indicium. The digital image is processed (e.g., using a processor within the indicia reader) to read (e.g., recognize, decode, etc.) the one or more indicia found in the image.

Imaging indicia readers (i.e., indicia readers) are often configured to automatically sense when an object enters the indicia reader's field of view (i.e., scan field) by detecting infrared (IR) light levels. In this way, the indicia reader may be woken from a sleep state (i.e., sleep mode) or may be automatically triggered to scan (i.e., read) an indicium. Traditionally, indicia readers have been configured with dedicated sensor subsystems to accomplish these functions. An exemplary sensor subsystem may include an IR photodetector, circuitry, optics, and/or mechanical parts.

This extra sensor subsystem is typically required for indicia readers since the image sensors used for indicia reading generally require IR filtering to reduce noise. Eliminating this extra sensor subsystem would make indicia readers more cost effective and more reliable.

Therefore, a need exists for an indicia reader having an image reader configured for both indicia reading and object detection.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention embraces an indicia reader. The indicia reader includes an image sensor with an array of light sensitive pixels. The image sensor includes a designated imaging area that contains a plurality of contiguous pixels for capturing an image. The image sensor also includes at least one designated auxiliary area that contains a plurality of contiguous pixels for at least one auxiliary function. The indicia reader also includes at a light filter positioned in front of the image sensor. The light filter includes a first area that is configured to pass a first spectral range to the light sensor's designated imaging area. The light filter also includes at least one second area configured to pass a second spectral range to the light sensor's at least one designated auxiliary area.

In an exemplary embodiment of the indicia reader, the at least one auxiliary function is object detection.

In another exemplary embodiment of the indicia reader, the at least one auxiliary area includes multiple areas that each contain the same number of pixels.

In another exemplary embodiment of the indicia reader, the at least one auxiliary area includes multiple areas positioned symmetrically around the center of the image sensor.

In another exemplary embodiment of the indicia reader, the at least one auxiliary area is an area located at the center of the image sensor.

In another exemplary embodiment of the indicia reader, the first spectral range and the second spectral range do not overlap.

In another exemplary embodiment of the indicia reader, the first spectral ranges includes only visible wavelengths in any substantial portion, while the second spectral range includes only infrared wavelengths in any substantial portion.

In another exemplary embodiment of the indicia reader, the first spectral range includes only visible wavelengths in any substantial portion, while the second spectral range includes visible and infrared wavelengths.

In another aspect, the present invention embraces an indicia reader. The indicia reader includes an image sensor that has a plurality of pixels for detecting light. The indicia reader also includes a light filter positioned in front of the image sensor so that infrared light is substantially blocked from a first portion of the plurality of pixels and not substantially blocked from a second portion of the plurality of pixels. The indicia reader also includes a processor that, when configured by software: (i) receives pixel information from the image sensor; (ii) reads indicia using the pixel information from the first portion of the plurality of pixels; and (iii) performs at least one auxiliary function using the pixel information from the second portion of the plurality of pixels.

In an exemplary embodiment of the indicia reader, the indicia reader includes an infrared light source to illuminate the indicia reader's field of view. In some cases, the infrared light sources radiates amplitude modulated infrared light.

In another exemplary embodiment of the indicia reader, the at least one auxiliary function includes object detection for waking the indicia reader from a sleep mode and/or triggering an indicia reading process.

In another exemplary embodiment of the indicia reader, the light filter includes an optical coating applied to the image sensor.

In another exemplary embodiment of the indicia reader, the light filter is adhesively joined with the image sensor.

In another exemplary embodiment of the indicia reader, the light filter is spaced apart from the image sensor.

In another exemplary embodiment of the indicia reader, the light filter is a dichroic filter.

In another exemplary embodiment of the indicia reader, the light filter is an absorptive filter.

In another exemplary embodiment of the indicia reader, the second portion of the plurality of pixels includes multiple groups of contiguous pixels arranged symmetrically around the center of the image sensor.

In another aspect, the present invention embraces a method for activating an indicia reader. The method includes focusing light from a field of view, wherein the light from the field of view has both visible and infrared wavelengths. The focused light is filtered before it reaches an image sensor so that the image sensor's pixels within an object-detection area receive infrared light, while the image sensor's pixels outside the object-detection area do not receive infrared light. The pixels from the object detection area are then read. Based on the pixel readings, an object is detected. The detection of the object activates the indicia reader.

In one embodiment of the method, after the indicia reader is activated, pixels are read from the area outside the object-detection area. A digital image is then rendered from these pixel readings, and indicia found in the digital image are decoded.

The foregoing illustrative summary, as well as other exemplary objectives and/or advantages of the invention, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, are further explained within the following detailed description and its accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 graphically depicts an image sensor and a light filter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C graphically depict a plan view of an image sensor with areas for auxiliary function indicated according to three exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for activating an indicia reader to read indicia according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A graphically depicts an exemplary pixel response from auxiliary areas on an image sensor according to one implementation of the present invention.

FIG. 4B graphically depicts an exemplary pixel response from an imaging area on an image sensor according to one implementation of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention embraces an indicia reader that utilizes its image sensor (e.g., CCD, CMOS sensor, etc.) for more than one function. The added functionality is derived by designating areas on the image sensor according to function and then filtering the light focused onto each area according to the area's particular function. The data (i.e., pixel information) from each particular area may then be processed accordingly to facilitate a variety of functions such as image capture and object detection.

The present invention may be applied to all indicia reader types that utilize an image sensor for indicia reading (e.g., hand-held, body-worn, hands-free, in-counter, etc.). In general, these indicia readers may scan (i.e., read, decode, interpret, etc.) a variety of indicia types (e.g., 1-D barcodes, 2-D barcodes, characters, signatures, symbols, etc.) that are either marked, printed, or displayed by capturing and processing at least one image. An image for indicia reading may be captured individually or may be part of a video stream of images.

Typically, an indicia reader remains in a standby or sleep state until it is triggered to acquire and process images for indicia reading. For some indicia readers, triggering also activates one or more light sources. These light sources may be used to illuminate a target for imaging and/or to project a visible image (e.g., line, box, crosshair, etc.) for targeting. Triggering (i.e., activating) an indicia reader may be accomplished manually (e.g., a user pulling a trigger, pressing a button, etc.) or may happen automatically when a target is brought into the indicia reader's field of view (i.e., scan field).

Activating an indicia reader automatically has traditionally been accomplished by a dedicated sensor subsystem integrated within the indicia reader. This sensor subsystem typically includes a photodetector to sense infrared (IR) light levels within the indicia reader's field of view. Sensed wavelengths may lie somewhere in the range of about 700 nanometers (nm) to about 1200 nm area for photodetectors created from silicon, though this range may be extended to longer wavelengths through the use of other materials (e.g., Ge, GaAs, etc.). When an object enters the indicia reader's field of view, light levels on the sensor subsystem's photodetector change. These light levels may be monitored and sensed to trigger the indicia reader. In general, this function is known as object detection.

Indicia readers may utilize a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a sensor made using complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology as an image sensor. The image sensor is comprised of a plurality of light sensitive pixels to sample the light levels of a real image of the indicia reader's field of view. In some cases, additional filtering (e.g., a Bayer filter) may be applied to individual pixels to sample color levels (e.g., red, green, blue), which may be used to create color images.

Image sensors are typically fabricated using silicon and so are sensitive to IR wavelengths. IR light, however, may cause problems (e.g., color correction, optical aberration, sensor noise, stray light, etc.) for indicia readers designed to capture images (e.g., color images) within the visible spectrum (i.e., 400 nm-700 nm). As a result, a blocking (i.e., cutoff) filter is typically used to severely attenuate (i.e., block) IR light from reaching the image sensor.

Indicia readers are typically designed so that an indicium need not occupy an entire image. Often, much of a captured image for indicia reading goes unused. This fact implies that, in many cases, portions of the image sensor may be used for other purposes without affecting indicia reading.

The present invention embraces the use of designated areas on the image sensor for various functions. The functions may be classified as a primary function (e.g., indicia reading) and one or more auxiliary functions. Two exemplary auxiliary functions include (i) object detection (e.g., to wake the indicia reader from a sleep mode, to trigger the indicia reader to scan indicia, etc.) and (ii) security feature detection (e.g., for item authentication, for counterfeit detection, for user validation, etc.).

The use of an indicia reader's image sensor for object detection allows for the elimination of the specialized circuits and components in an object detection sensor. However, since object detection senses IR light and since capturing images for indicia reading requires the blocking of IR light, the present invention embraces the use of a specially designed filter that has passing/blocking properties suitable for each designated area's associated function.

FIG. 1 graphically depicts an exploded view of an image sensor 1 and light filter 2 to enable multiple functions. The image sensor 1 (e.g., CCD, CMOS, etc.) includes an array of light sensitive pixels 3 (e.g., grid array). The light filter 2 is positioned in front of the image sensor 1 so that light focused from the indicia reader's field of view encounters the light filter 2 before reaching the image sensor 1.

The light from the field of view may include various combinations of wavelengths from the visible (i.e., white light) and invisible (e.g., ultraviolet, infrared) portions of the spectrum. The light filter is designed and positioned so that only particular portions of the spectrum reach particular areas of the image sensor. For example, the filter may (i) allow only visible light to reach an area designated for indicia reading and (ii) allow only IR to reach an area designated for object detection. This example is not the only spectral combination possible. Various pass/block filter profiles (in various portions of the spectrum) may be used for the primary and auxiliary (i.e., first and second) filter areas. For example, the filter may allow only visible light to reach an area designated for indicia reading but allow both white light and IR light to reach an area designated for object detection (e.g., no filtering in this area). Further, a light filter may include different auxiliary pass/block filter profiles in different auxiliary areas since more than one auxiliary function is within the scope of the present invention. Further still, the light filter may be used in conjunction with other filters (e.g., a Bayer filter) to add functionality, ease construction, and/or add versatility.

The light filter shown in FIG. 1 contains one primary area (i.e., first area) 4 and four auxiliary areas (i.e., second areas) 5 located in the corners of the light filter. In general, the size/shape/locations of the light filter's auxiliary areas depend on the size/shape/location of the areas on the image sensor designated for auxiliary function.

The light filter 2 may block light through absorption (i.e., absorptive filter) or through reflection (i.e., dichroic filter). Dichroic filters may include a plurality of coating layers. The layers may be deposited directly on the image sensor or on a substrate (e.g., glass). The filter may be spaced apart from the image sensor or connected to the image sensor (e.g., via optical adhesive).

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C graphically depict a plan view of an image sensor 1 showing some exemplary areas designated for an auxiliary function (i.e., within the dashed lines) 5. The remaining sensor area is designated for the primary function (i.e., indicia reading). FIG. 2A shows an image sensor with four auxiliary areas in the corners of the image sensor. FIG. 2B shows an image sensor with four auxiliary areas along the sides of the image sensor. FIG. 2C shows an image sensor with one auxiliary area at the center (i.e., indicated by the crosshair) of the image sensor. In all shown cases the area or areas are symmetric about the center of the image sensor and are (for FIGS. 2A and 2B) identically sized (i.e., contain the same number of pixels) and shaped. These aspects of the configuration are typical but not required.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a method to activate an indicia reader using an image sensor configured via a filter and pixel-function designation for object detection. To begin, light from an indicia reader's field of view is focused 10. Before reaching the image sensor, the light is filtered by the light filter selectively 11 so that the image sensor's pixels within an object detection area received infrared light and the image sensor's pixels outside the object-detection area do not receive infrared light. The pixels (i.e., pixel values) in the object detection area are read 12. Based on the pixel readings, an object is detected or not detected.

In a possible embodiment, the detection of an object may include comparing an average pixel value to a threshold. In another possible embodiment, the change of the pixel values over time may be monitored to detect a modulation signal. In this embodiment, the indicia reader may be configured with an infrared light source to illuminate the field of view. The light from this light source may be modulated to help detection. In general, objects entering the indicia reader's field of view may change infrared light levels (e.g., through the reflection of infrared light). This change may be sensed to detect that an object is within the indicia reader's field of view.

If an object is not detected 14 then the method described thus far may repeat 14. However, if an object is detected then the indicia reader is activated 15. This activation may include waking an indicia reader from a sleep mode and/or triggering the indicia reader to start an indicia reading process.

The indicia reading process may begin with reading the pixels outside the objected-detection area (or areas) 16. Using these pixels readings, a digital image of the field of view (minus the pixels used for object detection) may be created (i.e., rendered) 17. Using this digital image, an indicium (or indicia) may be identified and decoded 18 using techniques well known to a person having ordinary skill in the art.

FIGS. 4a and 4B graphically depict exemplary pixel responses from auxiliary areas (FIG. 4a ) and imaging area (FIG. 4b ) according to one possible implementation of the present invention. In this implementation a user 24 holding an identification card bearing an indicium (i.e., a barcode) 25 has moved his hand into the field of view of the indicia reader. Four auxiliary areas 20,22 each having contiguous pixels filtered to receive infrared light are used to detect objects. When the user's hand 24 moves into the field of view the pixel levels of one of the auxiliary areas 20 is changed. As a result, the indicia reader is triggered to capture a digital image 23 using the pixels in the imaging area. The digital image contains the user's hand 24 holding the barcode 25. The captured digital image may then be processed to decode the barcode 25.

To supplement the present disclosure, this application incorporates entirely by reference the following commonly assigned patents, patent application publications, and patent applications:

-   U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,725; U.S. Pat. No. 7,128,266; -   U.S. Pat. No. 7,159,783; U.S. Pat. No. 7,413,127; -   U.S. Pat. No. 7,726,575; U.S. Pat. No. 8,294,969; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,317,105; U.S. Pat. No. 8,322,622; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,366,005; U.S. Pat. No. 8,371,507; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,376,233; U.S. Pat. No. 8,381,979; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,390,909; U.S. Pat. No. 8,408,464; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,408,468; U.S. Pat. No. 8,408,469; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,424,768; U.S. Pat. No. 8,448,863; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,457,013; U.S. Pat. No. 8,459,557; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,469,272; U.S. Pat. No. 8,474,712; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,479,992; U.S. Pat. No. 8,490,877; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,517,271; U.S. Pat. No. 8,523,076; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,528,818; U.S. Pat. No. 8,544,737; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,548,242; U.S. Pat. No. 8,548,420; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,550,335; U.S. Pat. No. 8,550,354; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,550,357; U.S. Pat. No. 8,556,174; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,556,176; U.S. Pat. No. 8,556,177; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,559,767; U.S. Pat. No. 8,599,957; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,561,895; U.S. Pat. No. 8,561,903; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,561,905; U.S. Pat. No. 8,565,107; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,571,307; U.S. Pat. No. 8,579,200; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,583,924; U.S. Pat. No. 8,584,945; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,587,595; U.S. Pat. No. 8,587,697; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,588,869; U.S. Pat. No. 8,590,789; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,596,539; U.S. Pat. No. 8,596,542; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,596,543; U.S. Pat. No. 8,599,271; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,599,957; U.S. Pat. No. 8,600,158; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,600,167; U.S. Pat. No. 8,602,309; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,608,053; U.S. Pat. No. 8,608,071; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,611,309; U.S. Pat. No. 8,615,487; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,616,454; U.S. Pat. No. 8,621,123; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,622,303; U.S. Pat. No. 8,628,013; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,628,015; U.S. Pat. No. 8,628,016; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,629,926; U.S. Pat. No. 8,630,491; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,635,309; U.S. Pat. No. 8,636,200; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,636,212; U.S. Pat. No. 8,636,215; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,636,224; U.S. Pat. No. 8,638,806; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,640,958; U.S. Pat. No. 8,640,960; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,643,717; U.S. Pat. No. 8,646,692; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,646,694; U.S. Pat. No. 8,657,200; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,659,397; U.S. Pat. No. 8,668,149; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,678,285; U.S. Pat. No. 8,678,286; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,682,077; U.S. Pat. No. 8,687,282; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,692,927; U.S. Pat. No. 8,695,880; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,698,949; U.S. Pat. No. 8,717,494; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,717,494; U.S. Pat. No. 8,720,783; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,723,804; U.S. Pat. No. 8,723,904; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,727,223; U.S. Pat. No. D702,237; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,740,082; U.S. Pat. No. 8,740,085; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,746,563; U.S. Pat. No. 8,750,445; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,752,766; U.S. Pat. No. 8,756,059; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,757,495; U.S. Pat. No. 8,760,563; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,763,909; U.S. Pat. No. 8,777,108; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,777,109; U.S. Pat. No. 8,779,898; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,781,520; U.S. Pat. No. 8,783,573; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,789,757; U.S. Pat. No. 8,789,758; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,789,759; U.S. Pat. No. 8,794,520; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,794,522; U.S. Pat. No. 8,794,525; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,794,526; U.S. Pat. No. 8,798,367; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,807,431; U.S. Pat. No. 8,807,432; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,820,630; U.S. Pat. No. 8,822,848; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,824,692; U.S. Pat. No. 8,824,696; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,842,849; U.S. Pat. No. 8,844,822; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,844,823; U.S. Pat. No. 8,849,019; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,851,383; U.S. Pat. No. 8,854,633; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,866,963; U.S. Pat. No. 8,868,421; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,868,519; U.S. Pat. No. 8,868,802; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,868,803; U.S. Pat. No. 8,870,074; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,879,639; U.S. Pat. No. 8,880,426; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,881,983; U.S. Pat. No. 8,881,987; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,903,172; U.S. Pat. No. 8,908,995; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,910,870; U.S. Pat. No. 8,910,875; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,914,290; U.S. Pat. No. 8,914,788; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,915,439; U.S. Pat. No. 8,915,444; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,916,789; U.S. Pat. No. 8,918,250; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,918,564; U.S. Pat. No. 8,925,818; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,939,374; U.S. Pat. No. 8,942,480; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,944,313; U.S. Pat. No. 8,944,327; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,944,332; U.S. Pat. No. 8,950,678; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,967,468; U.S. Pat. No. 8,971,346; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,976,030; U.S. Pat. No. 8,976,368; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,978,981; U.S. Pat. No. 8,978,983; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,978,984; U.S. Pat. No. 8,985,456; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,985,457; U.S. Pat. No. 8,985,459; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,985,461; U.S. Pat. No. 8,988,578; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,988,590; U.S. Pat. No. 8,991,704; -   U.S. Pat. No. 8,996,194; U.S. Pat. No. 8,996,384; -   U.S. Pat. No. 9,002,641; U.S. Pat. No. 9,007,368; -   U.S. Pat. No. 9,010,641; U.S. Pat. No. 9,015,513; -   U.S. Pat. No. 9,016,576; U.S. Pat. No. 9,022,288; -   U.S. Pat. No. 9,030,964; U.S. Pat. No. 9,033,240; -   U.S. Pat. No. 9,033,242; U.S. Pat. No. 9,036,054; -   U.S. Pat. No. 9,037,344; U.S. Pat. No. 9,038,911; -   U.S. Pat. No. 9,038,915; U.S. Pat. No. 9,047,098; -   U.S. Pat. No. 9,047,359; U.S. Pat. No. 9,047,420; -   U.S. Pat. No. 9,047,525; U.S. Pat. No. 9,047,531; -   U.S. Pat. No. 9,053,055; U.S. Pat. No. 9,053,378; -   U.S. Pat. No. 9,053,380; U.S. Pat. No. 9,058,526; -   U.S. Pat. No. 9,064,165; U.S. Pat. No. 9,064,167; -   U.S. Pat. No. 9,064,168; U.S. Pat. No. 9,064,254; -   U.S. Pat. No. 9,066,032; U.S. Pat. No. 9,070,032; -   U.S. Design Pat. No. D716,285; -   U.S. Design Pat. No. D723,560; -   U.S. Design Pat. No. D730,357; -   U.S. Design Pat. No. D730,901; -   U.S. Design Pat. No. D730,902 -   U.S. Design Pat. No. D733,112; -   U.S. Design Pat. No. D734,339; -   International Publication No. 2013/163789; -   International Publication No. 2013/173985; -   International Publication No. 2014/019130; -   International Publication No. 2014/110495; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0185432; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0134221; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0177080; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0177076; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0177707; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0177749; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0265880; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0202554; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0111946; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0168511; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0168512; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0193423; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0203647; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0223141; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0228382; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0248188; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0043312; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0082104; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0175341; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0175343; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0257744; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0257759; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0270346; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0287258; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0292475; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0292477; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0293539; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0293540; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0306728; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0306731; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0307964; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0308625; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0313324; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0313325; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0342717; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0001267; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0008439; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0025584; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0034734; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0036848; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0039693; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0042814; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0049120; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0049635; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0061306; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0063289; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0066136; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0067692; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0070005; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0071840; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0074746; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0076974; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0078341; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0078345; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0097249; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0098792; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0100813; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0103115; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0104413; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0104414; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0104416; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0104451; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0106594; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0106725; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0108010; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0108402; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0110485; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0114530; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0124577; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0124579; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0125842; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0125853; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0125999; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0129378; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0131438; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0131441; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0131443; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0131444; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0131445; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0131448; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0133379; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0136208; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0140585; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0151453; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0152882; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0158770; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0159869; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0166755; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0166759; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0168787; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0175165; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0175172; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0191644; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0191913; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0197238; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0197239; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0197304; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0214631; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0217166; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0217180; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0231500; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0232930; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0247315; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263493; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0263645; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0267609; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0270196; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0270229; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0278387; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0278391; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0282210; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0284384; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0288933; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0297058; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0299665; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0312121; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0319220; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0319221; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0326787; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0332590; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0344943; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0346233; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0351317; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0353373; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0361073; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0361082; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0362184; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0363015; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0369511; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0374483; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0374485; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0001301; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0001304; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0003673; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0009338; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0009610; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0014416; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0021397; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0028102; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0028103; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0028104; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0029002; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0032709; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0039309; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0039878; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0040378; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0048168; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0049347; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0051992; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0053766; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0053768; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0053769; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0060544; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0062366; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0063215; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0063676; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0069130; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0071819; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0083800; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0086114; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0088522; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0096872; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0099557; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0100196; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0102109; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0115035; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0127791; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0128116; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0129659; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0133047; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0134470; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0136851; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0136854; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0142492; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0144692; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0144698; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0144701; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0149946; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0161429; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0169925; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0169929; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0178523; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0178534; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0178535; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0178536; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0178537; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0181093; -   U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0181109; -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/367,978 for a Laser Scanning     Module Employing an Elastomeric U-Hinge Based Laser Scanning     Assembly, filed Feb. 7, 2012 (Feng et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/458,405 for an Electronic     Device, filed Jun. 19, 2013 (Fitch et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/459,620 for an Electronic Device     Enclosure, filed Jul. 2, 2013 (London et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/468,118 for an Electronic Device     Case, filed Sep. 26, 2013 (Oberpriller et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/150,393 for Indicia-reader     Having Unitary Construction Scanner, filed Jan. 8, 2014 (Colavito et     al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/200,405 for Indicia Reader for     Size-Limited Applications filed Mar. 7, 2014 (Feng et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/231,898 for Hand-Mounted     Indicia-Reading Device with Finger Motion Triggering filed Apr. 1,     2014 (Van Horn et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/486,759 for an Imaging Terminal,     filed Apr. 2, 2014 (Oberpriller et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/257,364 for Docking System and     Method Using Near Field Communication filed Apr. 21, 2014     (Showering); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/264,173 for Autofocus Lens     System for Indicia Readers filed Apr. 29, 2014 (Ackley et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/277,337 for MULTIPURPOSE OPTICAL     READER, filed May 14, 2014 (Jovanovski et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/283,282 for TERMINAL HAVING     ILLUMINATION AND FOCUS CONTROL filed May 21, 2014 (Liu et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/327,827 for a MOBILE-PHONE     ADAPTER FOR ELECTRONIC TRANSACTIONS, filed Jul. 10, 2014 (Hejl); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/334,934 for a SYSTEM AND METHOD     FOR INDICIA VERIFICATION, filed Jul. 18, 2014 (Hejl); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/339,708 for LASER SCANNING CODE     SYMBOL READING SYSTEM, filed Jul. 24, 2014 (Xian et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/340,627 for an AXIALLY     REINFORCED FLEXIBLE SCAN ELEMENT, filed Jul. 25, 2014 (Rueblinger et     al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/446,391 for MULTIFUNCTION POINT     OF SALE APPARATUS WITH OPTICAL SIGNATURE CAPTURE filed Jul. 30, 2014     (Good et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/452,697 for INTERACTIVE INDICIA     READER, filed Aug. 6, 2014 (Todeschini); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/453,019 for DIMENSIONING SYSTEM     WITH GUIDED ALIGNMENT, filed Aug. 6, 2014 (Li et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/462,801 for MOBILE COMPUTING     DEVICE WITH DATA COGNITION SOFTWARE, filed on Aug. 19, 2014     (Todeschini et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/483,056 for VARIABLE DEPTH OF     FIELD BARCODE SCANNER filed Sep. 10, 2014 (McCloskey et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/513,808 for IDENTIFYING     INVENTORY ITEMS IN A STORAGE FACILITY filed Oct. 14, 2014 (Singel et     al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/519,195 for HANDHELD     DIMENSIONING SYSTEM WITH FEEDBACK filed Oct. 21, 2014 (Laffargue et     al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/519,179 for DIMENSIONING SYSTEM     WITH MULTIPATH INTERFERENCE MITIGATION filed Oct. 21, 2014 (Thuries     et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/519,211 for SYSTEM AND METHOD     FOR DIMENSIONING filed Oct. 21, 2014 (Ackley et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/519,233 for HANDHELD DIMENSIONER     WITH DATA-QUALITY INDICATION filed Oct. 21, 2014 (Laffargue et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/519,249 for HANDHELD     DIMENSIONING SYSTEM WITH MEASUREMENT-CONFORMANCE FEEDBACK filed Oct.     21, 2014 (Ackley et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/527,191 for METHOD AND SYSTEM     FOR RECOGNIZING SPEECH USING WILDCARDS IN AN EXPECTED RESPONSE filed     Oct. 29, 2014 (Braho et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/529,563 for ADAPTABLE INTERFACE     FOR A MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE filed Oct. 31, 2014 (Schoon et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/529,857 for BARCODE READER WITH     SECURITY FEATURES filed Oct. 31, 2014 (Todeschini et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/398,542 for PORTABLE ELECTRONIC     DEVICES HAVING A SEPARATE LOCATION TRIGGER UNIT FOR USE IN     CONTROLLING AN APPLICATION UNIT filed Nov. 3, 2014 (Bian et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/531,154 for DIRECTING AN     INSPECTOR THROUGH AN INSPECTION filed Nov. 3, 2014 (Miller et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/533,319 for BARCODE SCANNING     SYSTEM USING WEARABLE DEVICE WITH EMBEDDED CAMERA filed Nov. 5, 2014     (Todeschini); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/535,764 for CONCATENATED     EXPECTED RESPONSES FOR SPEECH RECOGNITION filed Nov. 7, 2014 (Braho     et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/568,305 for AUTO-CONTRAST     VIEWFINDER FOR AN INDICIA READER filed Dec. 12, 2014 (Todeschini); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/573,022 for DYNAMIC DIAGNOSTIC     INDICATOR GENERATION filed Dec. 17, 2014 (Goldsmith); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/578,627 for SAFETY SYSTEM AND     METHOD filed Dec. 22, 2014 (Ackley et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/580,262 for MEDIA GATE FOR     THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTERS filed Dec. 23, 2014 (Bowles); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/590,024 for SHELVING AND PACKAGE     LOCATING SYSTEMS FOR DELIVERY VEHICLES filed Jan. 6, 2015 (Payne); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/596,757 for SYSTEM AND METHOD     FOR DETECTING BARCODE PRINTING ERRORS filed Jan. 14, 2015 (Ackley); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/416,147 for OPTICAL READING     APPARATUS HAVING VARIABLE SETTINGS filed Jan. 21, 2015 (Chen et     al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/614,706 for DEVICE FOR     SUPPORTING AN ELECTRONIC TOOL ON A USER'S HAND filed Feb. 5, 2015     (Oberpriller et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/614,796 for CARGO APPORTIONMENT     TECHNIQUES filed Feb. 5, 2015 (Morton et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/516,892 for TABLE COMPUTER filed     Feb. 6, 2015 (Bidwell et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/619,093 for METHODS FOR TRAINING     A SPEECH RECOGNITION SYSTEM filed Feb. 11, 2015 (Pecorari); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/628,708 for DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND     METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE STATUS OF CHECKOUT LANES filed Feb. 23,     2015 (Todeschini); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/630,841 for TERMINAL INCLUDING     IMAGING ASSEMBLY filed Feb. 25, 2015 (Gomez et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/635,346 for SYSTEM AND METHOD     FOR RELIABLE STORE-AND-FORWARD DATA HANDLING BY ENCODED INFORMATION     READING TERMINALS filed Mar. 2, 2015 (Sevier); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/519,017 for SCANNER filed Mar.     2, 2015 (Zhou et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/405,278 for DESIGN PATTERN FOR     SECURE STORE filed Mar. 9, 2015 (Zhu et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/660,970 for DECODABLE INDICIA     READING TERMINAL WITH COMBINED ILLUMINATION filed Mar. 18, 2015     (Kearney et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/661,013 for REPROGRAMMING SYSTEM     AND METHOD FOR DEVICES INCLUDING PROGRAMMING SYMBOL filed Mar. 18,     2015 (Soule et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/662,922 for MULTIFUNCTION POINT     OF SALE SYSTEM filed Mar. 19, 2015 (Van Horn et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/663,638 for VEHICLE MOUNT     COMPUTER WITH CONFIGURABLE IGNITION SWITCH BEHAVIOR filed Mar. 20,     2015 (Davis et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/664,063 for METHOD AND     APPLICATION FOR SCANNING A BARCODE WITH A SMART DEVICE WHILE     CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING AND DISPLAYING AN APPLICATION ON THE SMART     DEVICE DISPLAY filed Mar. 20, 2015 (Todeschini); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/669,280 for TRANSFORMING     COMPONENTS OF A WEB PAGE TO VOICE PROMPTS filed Mar. 26, 2015     (Funyak et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/674,329 for AIMER FOR BARCODE     SCANNING filed Mar. 31, 2015 (Bidwell); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/676,109 for INDICIA READER filed     Apr. 1, 2015 (Huck); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/676,327 for DEVICE MANAGEMENT     PROXY FOR SECURE DEVICES filed Apr. 1, 2015 (Yeakley et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/676,898 for NAVIGATION SYSTEM     CONFIGURED TO INTEGRATE MOTION SENSING DEVICE INPUTS filed Apr. 2,     2015 (Showering); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/679,275 for DIMENSIONING SYSTEM     CALIBRATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS filed Apr. 6, 2015 (Laffargue et     al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/523,098 for HANDLE FOR A TABLET     COMPUTER filed Apr. 7, 2015 (Bidwell et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/682,615 for SYSTEM AND METHOD     FOR POWER MANAGEMENT OF MOBILE DEVICES filed Apr. 9, 2015 (Murawski     et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/686,822 for MULTIPLE PLATFORM     SUPPORT SYSTEM AND METHOD filed Apr. 15, 2015 (Qu et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/687,289 for SYSTEM FOR     COMMUNICATION VIA A PERIPHERAL HUB filed Apr. 15, 2015 (Kohtz et     al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/524,186 for SCANNER filed Apr.     17, 2015 (Zhou et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/695,364 for MEDICATION     MANAGEMENT SYSTEM filed Apr. 24, 2015 (Sewell et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/695,923 for SECURE UNATTENDED     NETWORK AUTHENTICATION filed Apr. 24, 2015 (Kubler et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/525,068 for TABLET COMPUTER WITH     REMOVABLE SCANNING DEVICE filed Apr. 27, 2015 (Schulte et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/699,436 for SYMBOL READING     SYSTEM HAVING PREDICTIVE DIAGNOSTICS filed Apr. 29, 2015 (Nahill et     al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/702,110 for SYSTEM AND METHOD     FOR REGULATING BARCODE DATA INJECTION INTO A RUNNING APPLICATION ON     A SMART DEVICE filed May 1, 2015 (Todeschini et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/702,979 for TRACKING BATTERY     CONDITIONS filed May 4, 2015 (Young et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/704,050 for INTERMEDIATE LINEAR     POSITIONING filed May 5, 2015 (Charpentier et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/705,012 for HANDS-FREE HUMAN     MACHINE INTERFACE RESPONSIVE TO A DRIVER OF A VEHICLE filed May 6,     2015 (Fitch et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/705,407 for METHOD AND SYSTEM TO     PROTECT SOFTWARE-BASED NETWORK-CONNECTED DEVICES FROM ADVANCED     PERSISTENT THREAT filed May 6, 2015 (Hussey et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/707,037 for SYSTEM AND METHOD     FOR DISPLAY OF INFORMATION USING A VEHICLE-MOUNT COMPUTER filed May     8, 2015 (Chamberlin); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/707,123 for APPLICATION     INDEPENDENT DEX/UCS INTERFACE filed May 8, 2015 (Pape); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/707,492 for METHOD AND APPARATUS     FOR READING OPTICAL INDICIA USING A PLURALITY OF DATA SOURCES filed     May 8, 2015 (Smith et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/710,666 for PRE-PAID USAGE     SYSTEM FOR ENCODED INFORMATION READING TERMINALS filed May 13, 2015     (Smith); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/526,918 for CHARGING BASE filed     May 14, 2015 (Fitch et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/715,672 for AUGUMENTED REALITY     ENABLED HAZARD DISPLAY filed May 19, 2015 (Venkatesha et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/715,916 for EVALUATING IMAGE     VALUES filed May 19, 2015 (Ackley); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/722,608 for INTERACTIVE USER     INTERFACE FOR CAPTURING A DOCUMENT IN AN IMAGE SIGNAL filed May 27,     2015 (Showering et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/528,165 for IN-COUNTER BARCODE     SCANNER filed May 27, 2015 (Oberpriller et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/724,134 for ELECTRONIC DEVICE     WITH WIRELESS PATH SELECTION CAPABILITY filed May 28, 2015 (Wang et     al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/724,849 for METHOD OF     PROGRAMMING THE DEFAULT CABLE INTERFACE SOFTWARE IN AN INDICIA     READING DEVICE filed May 29, 2015 (Barten); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/724,908 for IMAGING APPARATUS     HAVING IMAGING ASSEMBLY filed May 29, 2015 (Barber et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/725,352 for APPARATUS AND     METHODS FOR MONITORING ONE OR MORE PORTABLE DATA TERMINALS     (Caballero et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/528,590 for ELECTRONIC DEVICE     filed May 29, 2015 (Fitch et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/528,890 for MOBILE COMPUTER     HOUSING filed Jun. 2, 2015 (Fitch et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/728,397 for DEVICE MANAGEMENT     USING VIRTUAL INTERFACES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS     filed Jun. 2, 2015 (Caballero); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/732,870 for DATA COLLECTION     MODULE AND SYSTEM filed Jun. 8, 2015 (Powilleit); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/529,441 for INDICIA READING     DEVICE filed Jun. 8, 2015 (Zhou et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/735,717 for INDICIA-READING     SYSTEMS HAVING AN INTERFACE WITH A USER'S NERVOUS SYSTEM filed Jun.     10, 2015 (Todeschini); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/738,038 for METHOD OF AND SYSTEM     FOR DETECTING OBJECT WEIGHING INTERFERENCES filed Jun. 12, 2015     (Amundsen et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/740,320 for TACTILE SWITCH FOR A     MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE filed Jun. 16, 2015 (Bandringa); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/740,373 for CALIBRATING A VOLUME     DIMENSIONER filed Jun. 16, 2015 (Ackley et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/742,818 for INDICIA READING     SYSTEM EMPLOYING DIGITAL GAIN CONTROL filed Jun. 18, 2015 (Xian et     al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/743,257 for WIRELESS MESH POINT     PORTABLE DATA TERMINAL filed Jun. 18, 2015 (Wang et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/530,600 for CYCLONE filed Jun.     18, 2015 (Vargo et al); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/744,633 for IMAGING APPARATUS     COMPRISING IMAGE SENSOR ARRAY HAVING SHARED GLOBAL SHUTTER CIRCUITRY     filed Jun. 19, 2015 (Wang); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/744,836 for CLOUD-BASED SYSTEM     FOR READING OF DECODABLE INDICIA filed Jun. 19, 2015 (Todeschini et     al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/745,006 for SELECTIVE OUTPUT OF     DECODED MESSAGE DATA filed Jun. 19, 2015 (Todeschini et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/747,197 for OPTICAL PATTERN     PROJECTOR filed Jun. 23, 2015 (Thuries et al.); -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/747,490 for DUAL-PROJECTOR     THREE-DIMENSIONAL SCANNER filed Jun. 23, 2015 (Jovanovski et al.);     and -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/748,446 for CORDLESS INDICIA     READER WITH A MULTIFUNCTION COIL FOR WIRELESS CHARGING AND EAS     DEACTIVATION, filed Jun. 24, 2015 (Xie et al.).

In the specification and/or figures, typical embodiments of the invention have been disclosed. The present invention is not limited to such exemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The figures are schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawn to scale. Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. 

1. An indicia reader comprising: an image sensor having an array of light sensitive pixels, the image sensor comprising: (i) a designated imaging area containing a plurality of contiguous pixels for capturing an image, and (ii) at least one designated auxiliary area, each designated auxiliary area containing a plurality of contiguous pixels for at least one auxiliary function; and a light filter positioned in front of the image sensor, the light filter comprising: (i) a first area configured to pass a first spectral range to the light sensor's designated imaging area, and (ii) at least one second area configured to pass a second spectral range to the light sensor's at least one designated auxiliary area.
 2. The indicia reader according to claim 1, wherein the at least one auxiliary function is object detection.
 3. The indicia reader according to claim 1, wherein the at least one designated auxiliary area comprises multiple areas containing the same number of pixels.
 4. The indicia reader according to claim 1, wherein the at least one designated auxiliary area comprises multiple areas positioned symmetrically around a center of the image sensor.
 5. The indicia reader according to claim 1, wherein the at least one designated auxiliary area comprises an area located at a center of the image sensor.
 6. The indicia reader according to claim 1, wherein the first spectral range and the second spectral range do not overlap.
 7. The indicia reader according to claim 6, wherein the first spectral range includes substantially only visible wavelengths and the second spectral range includes substantially only infrared wavelengths.
 8. The indicia reader according to claim 1, wherein the first spectral range includes substantially only visible wavelengths and the second spectral range includes visible and infrared wavelengths.
 9. A method for activating an indicia reader, the method comprising: focusing light from a field of view, the light having visible and infrared wavelengths; filtering the focused light before it reaches an image sensor so that (i) the image sensor's pixels within an object-detection area receive infrared light and (ii) the image sensor's pixels outside the object-detection area do not receive infrared light; reading the pixels from the object-detection area; detecting, based on the pixel readings, an object; and activating the indicia reader.
 10. The method according to claim 9, comprising after the step of activating the indicia reader: reading the pixels from the area outside the object-detection area; rendering a digital image from the pixel readings; and decoding indicia found in the digital image.
 11. An indicia reader comprising: an image sensor having an array of light sensitive pixels, the image sensor comprising: (i) a designated imaging area containing a plurality of contiguous pixels for capturing an image, and (ii) multiple designated auxiliary areas, each designated auxiliary area containing a plurality of contiguous pixels for at least one auxiliary function; and a light filter positioned in front of the image sensor, the light filter comprising: (i) a first area configured to pass a first spectral range to the light sensor's designated imaging area, and (ii) at least one second area configured to pass a second spectral range to the light sensor's multiple designated auxiliary areas; wherein at least one designated auxiliary area is designated for object detection.
 12. The indicia reader according to claim 11, wherein the multiple designated auxiliary areas are positioned symmetrically around a center of the image sensor.
 13. The indicia reader according to claim 11, wherein the multiple designated auxiliary areas are located at a center of the image sensor.
 14. The indicia reader according to claim 11, wherein the first spectral range and the second spectral range do not overlap.
 15. The indicia reader according to claim 11, wherein the first spectral range includes substantially only visible wavelengths and the second spectral range includes substantially only infrared wavelengths.
 16. The indicia reader according to claim 11, wherein the first spectral range includes substantially only visible wavelengths and the second spectral range includes visible and infrared wavelengths.
 17. The indicia reader according to claim 11, comprising an infrared light source.
 18. The indicia reader according to claim 17, wherein the infrared light source radiates amplitude modulated infrared light.
 19. The indicia reader according to claim 11, wherein the light filter comprises optical coatings applied to the image sensor.
 20. The indicia reader according to claim 11, wherein the light filter is adhesively joined with the image sensor. 